Mzimba North is stepping up efforts to curb rising HIV rates with the launch of the Bridging the Gap Project: a new project by Community Health Rights Advocacy (CHeRA).
Supported by the United Nations Development Programme under the Power of Prevention regional project covering Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The project mobilizes key population-led organizations in Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe to advocate for sustainable long-term financing for cost effective prevention tools, such as long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis (LA-PrEP).
The project also advances policies to ensure key populations’ access to essential HIV prevention services.
In Malawi, CHeRA’s18-month initiative aims to bring innovative HIV prevention tools and services closer to communities most affected, particularly key populations in Zolozolo, Masasa, and Mzuzu University.
The project will be implemented across Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu, and Mangochi districts. Its focus is on improving facility readiness, community accountability, and sustainable financing for long-acting HIV prevention, or LA-PrEP, for key populations.
While Malawi has adopted these prevention tools, access remains uneven.
Vulnerable groups such as young people, women in informal settlements, and those involved in transactional sex often face barriers to prevention, testing, and treatment.
Bridging the Gap seeks to address these disparities through stronger health system accountability and community-led advocacy.
Speaking at the launch, Director of Health and Social Services, Dr. Wamaka Msopole, praised CHeRA for its commitment.
“We appreciate CHeRA as a partner for submitting themselves to the required district entry protocols which enhances co creation and coordination. Investing in Mzimba North is welcome and necessary given the challenges posed by overlapping jurisdictions between Mzimba District Council and Mzuzu City Council.
“Some health facilities fall under the city while others fall under the district council, making coordinated efforts essential. Partnering closely with the District Health Management Team ensures ethical procedures and strengthens cooperation,” he said.
The project also assesses logistical challenges. According to the district’s Pharmacy Coordinator, some cold chain infrastructure, which keeps life-saving HIV prevention drugs effective, requires urgent repair.
“Without strong cold chain management, long acting PrEP doses costing USD 30 each risk going to waste, putting clients at serious risk,” the coordinator warned.
This is particularly important as the project will focus on equitable delivery of and accessibility long-acting injectable PrEP alongside oral preventive treatments, which must be stored and transported at controlled temperatures.
District Medical Officer, Mr. Shadreck Ngwira, emphasized the need to prioritize resources where HIV prevalence is highest.
“Mzimba district has a higher HIV prevalence among key populations compared to the general population. We need adequate budgets for both partners and the district to ensure we meet our targets and prevent new infections. If we fail to act strategically, new HIV cases will continue to rise, particularly among the youth and marginalized groups,” he said.
Since 2017, CHeRA has been active in Mzimba North under programs such as the Global Fund and Epidemic Control Meeting Targets.
The Bridging the Gap Project complements government ambition and efforts, ensuring that new long acting HIV prevention technologies, including CAB-LA and Lenacapavir, reach communities efficiently.
The initiative also focuses on community engagement, ensuring that local authorities prioritize HIV prevention in annual budgets.
Programs Manager, Alex Kaomba, explained that the project aligns with national policies.
“Bridging the Gap is built on the Revised and Extended National HIV Prevention Strategy and the Service Guidelines for oral and injectable PrEP.
“NGOs play a vital role in supporting these roll-outs, ensuring communities are informed, empowered, and ready to access life-saving interventions.
“Our role is not just to critique delivery of services but to work closely with district health offices, local authorities and communities to co-create programs that meet their needs,” he said.
Local volunteers and peer educators have also been mobilized to reach every corner of the district.
Thokozani, a peer educator from Masasa, explained, “Many young people have heard little about PrEP and are afraid to go to health facilities because of stigma. With this project, we can bring services closer to them and provide the support they need without fear.”
The initiative comes at a critical moment in Malawi’s HIV response. In 2024, approximately 990,871 people were living with HIV, including 938,000 adults and 53,000 children.
New HIV infections have declined by 79 percent since 2010, yet key populations, including female sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, and people who inject drugs, continue to bear the highest burden. Women and girls account for 61 percent of new infections, with young women aged 15–24 particularly affected.
CHeRA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Malawi’s goal of ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030, echoing President Peter Mutharika’s pledge at the UN General Assembly in 2015.
Achieving the 95-95-95 targets will require combined efforts from civil society, private sector actors, and government, with initiatives like Bridging the Gap leading the way in the north.
Focusing on hotspot areas and working closely with key populations, the Bridging the Gap Project brings renewed hope to communities long affected by HIV.
With careful planning, strategic allocation of resources, and active community participation, Mzimba North could become a leading example of effective HIV prevention in Malawi.
The initiative shows that targeted interventions, supported by strong partnerships, can achieve real and lasting impact in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
